Rules of the Road

Arizona WIC Program Leadership

Fellow Drivers

• M & M Activity – What is your passion (at home)? Green

– What is your passion (at work)? Red

– What is your favorite….Yellow

Meeting Guiding Principles • Communicate openly

– Everyone is expected to participate – 1 person speaks at a time; be concise - no monologues

• Keep an open mind to new ideas – All ideas are respected; there is no ‘bad’ idea

• Try not to repeat the same point even if you didn’t get the response you hoped for the first time you said it

• Participate in the meeting, not in the hall – No side-bar conversations – Silence is agreement

• If you oppose, you must propose; share a vision of what is possible

Red, Yellow, Green • Red = Do not agree • Yellow = Have some concerns • Green = Agree, kudos!

AZ WIC Leadership Partners • We are the owners of the AZ WIC Program

Together We Can

Together we provide the support and tools needed for staff to be successful

Willing to collaborate and do what is best for Arizonans

Desiring of a full partnership with effective two-way communications

Characteristics of a Successful Partnership

• Clear goals & purpose • Aware of partners’ roles & responsibilities • Clear strategic overview of performance

through robust monitoring & evaluation • High levels of trust & goodwill • Develop and implement a shared action plan

Characteristics of a Successful Partnership

• Prioritize diversity & inclusivity • Efforts to develop leaders exist • Everyone is a full participant in all aspects of work

– There is sensitivity & awareness regarding different views – Everyone is comfortable sharing their opinions &

participating • Meetings are not dominated by speakers from any

one group • All segments of the group are represented in the

decision-making

How is the AZ WIC Partnership?

– Good communication • Sense of open communication; can call any time • Visits from consultants - very valuable & helpful

– Commitment, dedication, & passion – Great staff; great support – Experience, knowledge – Good track record of moving forward

Elephant in the Room!

Challenges to the AZ WIC Partnership

• Need for more collaboration: – Directors would like to have input ahead of time

• More discussion during the planning & decision-making process

– Understand the ‘why’ - Federal? State?

• Negotiation & compromise, when possible

– “Too much, too fast” has created tension – Balance daily WIC services & demands of caseload – Staff learn new skills/tools at different paces

Challenges to the AZ WIC Partnership

• More commitment to partner together to move forward – Local leadership finds local solutions – Everyone must ‘own’ what they bring/don’t

bring to the partnership – Own the WIC Program as a nutrition

program

Strategies to a Strong Partnership in AZ WIC

• More face-to-face meetings – Provide opportunity for input/discussion

• Let everyone weigh-in – Gives heads-up for future changes

• Open communication – Listen with openness – No private meetings; no separate conversations – Assume the best, don’t just react; no blame – Be willing to negotiate and compromise

• Consider the time needed for change in clinics • Manager training & development opportunities

– New Program Director or refresher training – Buddy and/or collaborative system

Strategies to a Strong Partnership in AZ WIC

• Understand the challenges faced by SA with non-negotiable mandates, demands, and timelines from Federal and State authorities – Respect the funding environment & process – Believe the State is your advocate - has you and the

program’s best interest in mind – Trust the process – sometimes time is not controllable

• Accurate assessment of skills, needs, and competencies – Own the realities and find solutions – Shared leadership to the meet the needs

Suggestions for Improvement

• Review of Requests

Review of Jan’s Notes

Sometimes Seems…Extreme

The Rules of the Road

• The Four Agreements

Agreement #1: Speak with Integrity

• What this means: – Be impeccable with your word.

• Do what you say • Say what you mean • Honesty

– Admitting mistakes, etc

• How does this relate to you?

Agreement #2: Don’t Take Things Personally

• What this means: – “Nothing others do is because of you.” – Even when words are said about you, including your

own

• How does this relate to you?

Agreement #3: Don’t Make Assumptions

• What this means: – “We make assumptions about everything, believe

them to be true and then act upon them.” • We often assume the worst

– Seek clarification – Acknowledge when you don’t know something

• How does this apply to you?

Agreement #4: Do Your Best • What this means:

– It changes from moment to moment, i.e., sick vs. healthy.

– Shows our colleagues they can rely on us. – Appear fully engaged in our tasks and passionate

about our work. – Doing your best also brings out the best in others.

• How does this apply to you?

Agreement #5: Be Skeptical but Learn to Listen

• What this means: – Finding the truth

• Being respectfully open to other options • Search for intent “at the bottom of the lies,

misunderstandings and convolutions of everyday life” • Skeptical to your own ideas as well as others

• How does this apply to you?

Red, Yellow, Green • Red = Do not agree • Yellow = Have some concerns • Green = Agree, kudos!

Agreements into Action

• Individual

• State Role

• Local Role • What “best” are we expecting of each other?

Agreements into Action • What are your expectations?

– Policy decisions • Local • State

– Program Planning (Nutrition Ed, Food Package, Outreach, Training, etc)

• Local • State

– Implementing Change (Nutrition Ed, Outreach, Food Package, Training, etc.)

• Local • State

Reminder: Suggestions for Improvement

• Review of Requests